The  World’s  Columbian  Exposition. 


SPEECH 

OF 

HON.  BENJAMIN  BUTTERWORTH, 

OF  OHIO, 


In  the  House  op  Representatives, 


Friday ,  February  6,  1891. 


The  House  being  in  Committee  of  the  Whole  and  having  under  considera¬ 
tion  the  bill  (H.  R.  13452)  making  appropriations  for  sundry  civil  expenses  of 
the  Government  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 1892,  and  for  other  purposes — 

Mr.  BUTTER  WORTH  said: 

Mr.  Chairman:  The  question  before  the  committee  is  of  very  con¬ 
siderable  consequence,  not  only  to  the  respective  boards  charged  with 
the  duty  of  preparing  and  conducting  the  World’s  Columbian  Expo¬ 
sition,  but  also  to  the  people  of  this  country. 

We  are  committed  to  the  world  to  complete  the  work  we  have  un¬ 
dertaken  irrespective  of  the  instrumentality  through  which  it  is  accom¬ 
plished.  We  have  pledged  the  faith  and  honor  of  this  Republic  to  the 
discharge  of  each  obligation  assumed  and  duty  imposed  by  the  provi¬ 
sions  of  the  act  of  Congress  approved  April  25,  A,  D.  1890. 

Congress  exacted  of  Chicago  a  guaranty  of  $10,000,000  and  an  eligi¬ 
ble  site  lor  the  fair  before  the  Government  would  become  sponsor  lor 
the  enterprise.  The  guaranty  was  promptly  given,  an  eligible  site  was 
tendered  and  accepted  in  conformity  to  law,  and  thereupon  the  United 
States  became  the  loster  mother  of  the  World’s  Columbian  Exposition, 
and  can  not  without  discredit  fail  to  give  to  it  all  necessary  encourage¬ 
ment  and  aid.  We  must  keep  each  promise  and  redeem  every  pledge. 

The  difference  between  civilization  and  barbarism  is  in  a  large  de¬ 
gree  measured  by  the  means  employed  in  communicating  thought  from 
one  to  another  and  by  the  materialization  of  ideas  into  forms  and  use¬ 
ful  agencies  for  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  mankind.  The  inter¬ 
national  exposition  authorized  and  provided  for  in  the  act  mentioned 
will  furnish  an  opportunity  for  an  inventory  and  study  of  that  which 
is  the  evidence  of  the  progress  made  in  civilization. 

What  was  the  prime  object  and  purpose  of  the  enactment  of  this  law 
and  how  shall  we  best  carry  its  provisions  into  effect?  How  shall  we 
deal  with  the  condition  that  conlronts  us  to-day  ?  What  did  this  Con¬ 
gress  by  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  act  I  have  cited  require,  whether 


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through  a  local  organizatiou  of  the  State  of  Illinois  or  through  a  com¬ 
mission  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States? 

THE  TERMS  OF  THE  ACT. 

I  desire  to  call  attention  for  a  single  moment  to  the  nature  of  the 
obligations  defined  by  the  act  and  by  its  terms  imposed  upon  the 
national  commission  and  the  Illinois  corporation,  those  two  organiza¬ 
tions  being  the  agents  of  the  Federal  Government  in  carrying  into 
effect  the  act  of  Congress  mentioned. 

I  will  read  from  the  act,  because  it  states  clearly  what  I  desire  to 
say.  The  introduction  of  the  act  providing  for  this  World’s  Fair  is 
in  this  language: 

Whereas  it  is  fit  and  appropriate  that  the  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
discovery  of  America  be  commemorated  by  an  exhibition  of  the  resources  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  their  development,  and  of  the  progress  of  civilization 
in  the  New  World;  and 

Whereas  such  an  exhibition  should  be  of  a  national  and  international  char¬ 
acter,  so  that  not  only  the  people  of  our  Union  and  this  continent,  but  those  of 
all  nations  as  well,  can  participate,  and  should  therefore  have  the  sanction  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States:  Therefore, 

Be  it  enacted ,  etc.,  That  an  exhibition  of  arts,  industries,  manufactures,  and 
products  of  the  soil,  mine,  and  sea,  shall  be  inaugurated  in  the  year  1892,  in  the 
city  of  Chicago,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

So  it  will  be  observed  Congress  provided  for  a  national  and  interna¬ 
tional  exposition;  but  as  a  condition  precedent  to  the  assumption  of 
responsibility  by  the  National  Government  the  city  of  Chicago  or  the 
corporation  representing  the  State  of  Illinois  and  the  city  of  Chicago 
were  required,  as  before  mentioned,  to  raise  $10,000,000,  so  that  it  would 
be  available  for  the  purpose  stipulated  in  the  act.  When  that  propo¬ 
sition  was  submitted  to  this  body  there  were  not  twenty  men  on  the 
floor  of  this  House  who  believed  that  any  city  in  the  Union  could  or 
would  raise  $10,000,000  for  the  purpose  and  in  time  to  carry  into  effect 
this  law.  So  great  a  sum  for  the  promotion  of  such  a  project  had  never 
been  raised  by  any  municipality  in  the  world.  It  had  never  been  done 
by  any  State  in  the  Union.  I  do  not  say  that  other  cities  on  this  con¬ 
tinent  could  not.  But  the  people  of  Chicago  furnished  the  amount,  a 
sum  of  money  equal  to  $10  for  every  man,  woman,  and  child  within 
her  corporate  limits,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  this  law,  a 
work  which  may  indeed  result  in  great  advantage  to  Chicago,  but  will 
in  a  larger  degree  add  to  the  glory  of  this  nation. 

The  exposition  is  not  a  local  enterprise;  it  is  not  a  State,  but  it  is  a 
national,  enterprise  in  the  broadest  and  best  sense.  It  is  the  creature 
of  Congressional  enactment.  The  benefit  to  Chicago  is  an  incident. 
Her  citizens  may  reap  a  profit  of  many  million  dollars.  But  those 
citizens  who  put  their  hands  in  their  pockets  in  this  endeavor  to  confer 
distinction  upon  their  city  and  Statehave  at  the  same  time  added  greatly 
to  the  glory  of  the  nation  and  given  larger  opportunity  to  each  of  its 
citizens. 

THE  CRYSTALLIZED  THOUGHT  OF  FORTY  CENTURIES. 

I  desire  to  call  attention  to  a  phase  of  this  question  that  may  not  be 
given  due  importance.  I  may  be  a  little  enthusiastic  touching  the  ad¬ 
vantages  to  our  people  of  an  exhibition  of  this  character.  Let  me  in¬ 
quire  what  you  will  see  at  this  exposition.  An  exhibit  of  the  vast 
progress  made  during  the  centuries  in  every  useful  art;  an  exhibit  of 
what  science  has  accomplished  for  mankind  in  the  past;  in  other  words, 
the  crystallized  thought  of  forty  centuries  will  be  displayed  for  the 
instruction  of  our  people  and  the  people  of  the  world.  There  will  be 

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shown  the  steps  in  evolution  from  the  first  crude  devices,  along  the  line 
to  the  most  complete  machine.  For  instance,  every  appliance  and 
method  for  utilizing  electricity  will  there  be  shown,  and  a  few  days’ 
careful  observation  will  reveal  more  to  the  student  in  that  field  of  art 
than  would  result  from  several  years  devoted  to  the  most  careful  study 
of  books. 

So  in  regard  to  improvements  in  agricultural  implements  and  ma¬ 
chinery.  The  result  of  the  efforts  of  inventors  and  workmen  through¬ 
out  the  world  can  be  there  surveyed  in  a  short  space  of  time,  and  the 
observer  become  possessed  of  the  accumulated  knowledge  resulting 
from  the  combined  efforts  of  thousands  of  men  throughout  the  world. 
And  this  is  clearly  true  of  every  branch  of  industrial  art  and  of  the 
sciences  as  well.  Since  there  will  be  gathered  together,  as  I  have  be- i 
fore  suggested,  the  results  of  the  best  thought  and  endeavor  of  man- y 
kind,  it  must  therefore  occur  that  each  intelligent  visitor  will  have  \ 
his  mind  sown  with  seed  that  may  produce  a  rich  harvest  in  the  com-  \ 
ing  years. 

It  is  a  conceded  fact  that  the  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia 
wrought  a  revolution  in  a  great  many  departments  of  industry,  new 
and  better  methods  being  adopted  as  the  result  of  knowledge  gained 
by  our  people  at  that  exposition.  The  style  of  our  architecture 
throughout  the  country  was  changed  and  greatly  improved.  The  ad¬ 
vantage  measured  in  dollars  and  cents  was  beyond  estimate.  Sir, 
there  is  not  a  gentleman  on  the  floor  who  has  a  just  and  adequate  con¬ 
ception  of  what  the  developments  in  the  fipldof  industrial  art  have  ac¬ 
complished  for  our  race.  The  mind  can  hardly  grasp  the  full  measure 
of  advantage  when  expressed  in  figures. 


EXPOSITIONS  ARE  STUPENDOUS  EDUCATORS. 


In  viewing  these  exhibits  we  realize  not  only  what  man  has  done, 
and  what  woman  has  done,  with  hand  and  brain,  but  there  is  the  sug¬ 
gestion  of  the  possibilities  that  wait  upon  each  and  all  of  our  people. 
Every  intelligent  individual  who  goes  to  that  exposition  will  come  away 
not  only  with  broader  views,  but  clothed  with  a  larger  power  to  em¬ 
ploy  his  faculties  in  fighting  the  battle  of  life  and  promoting  the  hap¬ 
piness  of  mankind.  It  has  been  so  with  every  exposition.  And  al¬ 
though  the  one  held  at  New  Orleans,  being  badly  located,  was  indeed 
a  failure  financially,  yet  for  every  dollar  invested  in  that  exhibition  I 
have  no  doubt  this  country  has  realized  an  hundred  fold  in  positive  ad¬ 
vantage  to  the  people  of  the  Southern  States. 

Mr4  COLEMAN.  The  gentleman  will  allow  me  to  say  that  the  ex¬ 
position  at  New  Orleans  has  done  more  to  develop  the  industrial  re¬ 
sources  of  the  South  than  anything  that  has  occurred  since  the  aboli¬ 
tion  of  slavery  or  is  likely  to  transpire  for  years  to  come. 

Mr.  BUTTE RWORTH.  I  have  no  doubt  that  my  friend  is  correct 
about  that.  The  exhibition  of  the  various  devices  for  producing  sugar, 
the  various  means  of  treating  cotton  and  other  fibers,  the  various 
methods  of  utilizing  facilities  for  transportation,  has  wrought  a  change 
of  the  most  beneficent  character.  As  the  people  came  in  by  hundreds 
of  thousand^,  each  one  presented  a  mental  soil  in  which  that  exhibition 
planted  ideas  which  bore  rich  fruit  in  after  years. 

Mr.  GROSVENOR.  While  nothing  is  more  pleasant  to  me  than  the 
eloquence  of  my  distinguished  colleague,  yet  I  would  like  to  have,  so 
far  as  I  am  personally  concerned,  my  colleague’s  own  actual  knowledge 
of  the  necessity  for  these  expenditures.  I  hope  he  will  tell  us  some¬ 
thing  about  the  hundred  and  fifteen  women  whose  meeting  cost  $15,000, 


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and  the  other  things  along  that  part  of  the  line.  Let  us  know  the  ne¬ 
cessity  for  these  apparently  extravagant  expenditures. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Well,  let  me  say  to  my  colleague,  Mr. 
Chairman,  that  in  speaking  thus  I  have  sought  to  impress — and  I  may 
have  failed  in  some  instances  to  do  so — upon  my  hearers  the  advan¬ 
tage  which  inevitably  results  from  an  enterprise  of  this  character,  if 
properly  managed.  If  no  advantage  will  result  from  it,  we  had  better 
make  no  appropriation.  But  if  it  scatters  blessings  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  country  by  opening  a  great  school  for  the 
improvement  of  all  our  people,  who  may  come  together  to  learn  how  the 
arts  and  sciences  have  contributed  and  may  contribute  to  the  amelio¬ 
ration  and  improvement  of  our  race,  then  my  honored  colleague  will  see 
that  there  are  reasons  why  we  should  warmly  encourage  instead  of 
treating  the  project  with  indifference,  and  why  we  might  pass  over  many 
errors  of  judgment  in  the  management,  as  they  seem  to  us,  that  are 
almost  inevitable  and  are  certainly  excusable  in  the  inauguration  of 
such  a  vast  enterprise. 

I  will  now  consider  the  matter  to  which  my  colleague  has  referred. 
First,  it  is  obvious  that  to  inaugurate  and  successfully  carry  forward 
the  work  of  this  exposition  involves  a  vast  expenditure  of  money  and 
the  employment  of  the  time  and  ability  of  the  best  citizens  of  Chi¬ 
cago,  and,  in  fact,  of  the  whole  country.  And  I  want  to  show  to  all 
who  are  interested — and.  all  are  interested — precisely  what  has  been 
accomplished,  what  is  being  done,  and  what  is  contemplated  for  the 
future. 

WHAT  PRELIMINARY  WORK  HAS  BEEN  DONE. 

As  you  are  all  aware  the  State  of  Illinois  granted  a  charter  of  incor¬ 
poration  to  a  number  of  men  to  carry  into  effect  this  law  of  Congress; 
in  other  words,  to  provide  the  ways  and  means  for  holding  this  expo¬ 
sition.  Forty-five  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Chicago  became  the 
charter  members.  Among  these  were  the  most  capable  financiers 
and  commercial  men  of  Chicago,  all  gentlemen  of  the  highest  charac¬ 
ter.  And  here  I  wish  to  say  that  as  I  sat  among  them,  listening  to 
their  deliberations,  I  studied  each  of  them  carefully.  There  was  not 
one  among  them,  so  far  as  I  know,  who  had  not,  as  we  are  accustomed 
to  say  in  the  West,  “taken  life  from  the  stump.”  They  were  men 
who  had  fought  their  way  from  a  humble  beginning  to  the  magnificent 
success  each  had  achieved;  and  they  have  shown  an  almost  unexam¬ 
pled  willingness  to  share  their  success  with  others  and  make  their 
prosperity  the  means  of  serving  the  whole  people. 

Such  are  the  men  who  compose  the  directory  of  the  World’s  Colum¬ 
bian  Exposition  and  stand  pledged  to  make  it  a  success  worthy  of  their 
city,  their  State,  and  the  nation.  They  contributed  financial  aid,  as 
did  the  people  of  Chicago  generally,  from  the  boot-black  to  the  banker. 
Each  of  them  gave  heartily  his  contribution,  the  sums  ranging  from  ten 
to  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars,  to  meet  the  expenses  necessary  to  insure 
success. 

As  you  are  aware,  a  national  commission  was  appointed  consisting  of 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  men.  This  commission  was  authorized  by  the 
act  of  Congress  to  which  I  have  already  referred.  They  were  gathered 
together  from  the  four  quarters,  not  of  the  earth,  but  of  the  Republic. 
They  met  in  Chicago  for  the  first  time.  They  had  to  study  the  law 
and  determine  what  their  powers  and  duties  were,  what  the  jurisdic¬ 
tion  of  the  body  was,  and  naturally  reasoned  and  learned  a  little  in  the 
direction  of  their  desires.  If  tliey  did  not  find  the  jurisdiction  coex- 

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tensive  with  their  desires,  it  was  because  it  was  obviously  not  author¬ 
ized  by  the  law;  and  as  my  friend  from  Massachusetts  [Mr.  Candler] 
and  other  gentlemen  have  said,  there  was  little  beyond  the  limit  of  their 
jurisdiction,  as  they  interpreted  the  law. 

It  may  be  said  possibly  of  the  local  board,  on  the  other  hand,  that 
they  were  in  some  measure  disposed  to  insist  on  an  extension  of  their 
jurisdiction  beyond  its  proper  limit.  It  is  true  that  some  members  of 
the  commission  in  the  beginning  insisted  that  the  local  board,  com¬ 
posed,  as  I  have  stated,  of  as  able  and  patriotic  men  as  can  be  found  in 
the  Union,  men  whose  honor  and  whose  fortunes  were  pledged  to  make 
the  exposition  a  success,  had  little  or  nothing  to  do  except  to  raise 
$10, 000, 000  and  lay  the  money  down  at  the  feet  of  the  commission  and 
let  the  committee  of  that  body  vote  it  here  and  there  without  the  yea 
or  nay  of  the  local  board.  It  was  contended  by  the  local  board  that 
business  principles  and  methods  must  be  adopted  in  conducting  the 
enterprise.  It  was  unfortunate,  however,  that  the  local  board  was  not 
more  determined  in  its  position.  Their  spirit  of  accommodation  took 
the  form  of  subserviency.  I  could  not  sharpen  a  pencil  in  the  office 
of  the  local  board  without  its  provoking  newspaper  comment,  suggest¬ 
ing  usurpation  by  the  officials  of  the  directory. 

A  COMPACT  ORGANIZATION  PROVIDED. 

That  was  the  vexatious  condition.  It  was  not  wholly  the  fault  of 
the  commission,  nor  the  fault  of  the  local  board,  but  this  question  of 
jurisdiction  and  resulting  friction  remained  to  disturb  the  harmony, 
which  was  most  unfortunate  at  the  inception  of  such  an  enterprise. 
The  arrival  of  the  honorable  gentlemen  composing  the  House  commit¬ 
tee  was  most  timely  and  salutary  in  its  influence.  The  effect  of  it  was 
to  compel  peace  between  the  two  organizations  and  a  resort  to  meas¬ 
ures  which  should  have  been  adopted  at  an  earlier  day. 

Up  to  that  time  no  lawyer  had  by  authority  examined  the  statute 
and  rendered  an  opinion  as  to  the  limit  of  jurisdiction  between  the  two 
bodies.  But  when  you  gentlemen  arrived,  or  when,  “far  off,  your 
coming  shone,”  eminent  counsel,  learned  in  the  law,  were  called  to¬ 
gether  to  consider  this  question.  They  were  unanimous  in  their  con¬ 
clusions.  It  is  true  they  did  not  agree  with  all  the  gentlemen  of  the 
commission.  But  what  was  the  result?  Why,  like  sensible  men,  the 
two  bodies  met  together,  and  wiping  out  the  debatable  lines,  those 
shadowy  and  doubtful  lines  of  jurisdiction  between  them,  they  agreed 
they  would  set  aside  the  cumbersome  machinery  of  which  my  friends 
of  the  committee  very  properly  complain.  They  did  set  aside  all  that 
cumbersome  machinery  and  appointed  committees,  and  provided  a 
complete,  compact  organization,  with  a  board  of  control  to  supervise  the 
work.  They  established  a  number  of  departments,  as  follows: 

A.  Agriculture,  food  and  food  products,  farming  machinery  and  ap¬ 
pliances, 

B.  Viticulture,  horticulture,  and  floriculture. 

C.  Live  stock:  domestic  and  wild  animals. 

D.  Fish,  fisheries,  fish  products,  and  apparatus  of  fishing. 

E.  Mines,  mining,  and  metallurgy. 

F.  Machinery. 

G.  Transportation  exhibits:  railways,  vessels,  vehicles. 

H.  Manufactures. 

J.  Electricity  and  electrical  appliances. 

K.  Fine  arts:  pictorial,  plastic,  and  decorative. 

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L.  Liberal  arts:  education,  engineering,  public  works,  architecture, 
music,  and  the  drama. 

M.  Ethnology,  archaeology,  progress  of  labor  and  invention,  isolated 
and  collective  exhibits. 

N.  Forestry  and  forest  products. 

O.  Publicity  and  promotion. 

P.  Foreign  affairs. 

And  they  are  placing  suitable  men  at  the  head  of  each  one.  The 
national  commission  no  longer  meets.  It  has  taken  wings,  and  so  have 
our  troubles.  But  there  remains  the  impress  of  its  power,  the  stamp 
of  Congress  and  the  Government  which  called  it  into  being.  That  mat¬ 
ter  is  settled,  and  to-day  they  have  a  board  of  control  satisfactory  to 
both  bodies,  selected  from  both  bodies,  supplemented  by  small  com¬ 
mittees  operating  harmoniously  and  effectively. 

AS  TO  THE  DIRECTOR  GENERAL. 

Mr.  FLOWER.  Will  my  friend  yield  for  a  suggestion  ? 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Yes. 

Mr.  FLOWER.  In  your  judgment,  with  this  board  of  control  on 
each  side,  eight  from  your  committee  and  eight  from  the  other,  what 
need  is  there  for  any  more  commissioners,  ladies  or  otherwise,  until 
the  fair  meets  ? 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Well,  my  friend,  there  might  be  a  very 
wide  difference  of  opinion  about  that.  The  committee  considered  that 
question.  Candidly  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  crying  need  for  it;  and 
yet  I  have  always  found  the  master’s  eye  was  worth  both  his  hands. 
The  Committee  on  Appropriations  considered  the  matter,  as  my  honor¬ 
able  friend  from  Kentucky  [Mr.  Breckinridge]  has  said;  and  instead 
of  providing  for  two  meetings  a  year  they  provided  for  one  meeting  in 
1892.  They  have  also  provided  for  that  machinery  which  every  busi¬ 
ness  man  will  recognize  as  indispensable  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
that  devolve  upon  the  two  bodies. 

It  has  been  urged  on  the  floor  of  the  House  that  a  mistake  was  made 
on  the  part  of  the  national  commission  in  the  appointment  of  a  director 
general.  Let  us  not  forget,  gentlemen,  that  this  is  our  fair,  and  not 
the  fair  of  a  city  or  locality,  but  the  fair  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  and  will  reflect  either  their  glory  or  their  shame.  The  officer 
who  speaks  for  and  represents  it,  standing  conspicuously  above  all 
others,  as  its  executive  head,  and  representing  both  bodies,  whose  sig¬ 
nature  goes  to  other  countries  and  goes  to  all  the  States  of  the  Union, 
is  the  director  general.  He  is  the  head  and  front  of  the  management, 
representing  both  organizations, chosen,  however,  by  the  national  com¬ 
mission,  but  approved  by  the  local  board.  Why,  therefore,  should  it 
not  be  a  national  office?  He  represents  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

“  Well,”  it  is  said,  “that  may  be,  but  the  local  board  should  pay 
him. ”  I  appeal  to  the  honorable  gentlemen  here  whether  Chicago  has 
not  fulfilled  to  the  letter  all  she  promised,  and  more?  I  ask  whether 
the  State  of  Illinois,  one  of  the  young  States  of  the  Union,  has  not 
met  all  the  requirements  of  the  situation  ?  Her  Legislature  proposes 
to  give  and  will  give  more  than  that  of  any  other  State,  lor  the  pur- 
X^ose  of  promoting  this  national  enterprise,  because  she  has  a  local 
pride  in  it.  Chicago  has  raised  $10,000,000,  and  will  add  several  mil¬ 
lions  to  that  sum.  Has  she  been  liberal  or  not  ?  Is  Congress  treating 
her  with  generous  encouragement?  Is  she  to  be  criticised  because, 
lorsooth,  she  deems  it  proper  and  just  that  the  director  general  be  paid 

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out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  nation  that  employs  him,  since  he  is  the 
chosen  officer  of  all  the  people. 

Your  law  provides  that  all  intercourse  with  foreign  exhibitors,  etc., 
shall  be  conducted,  by  whom  ?  Not  by  the  local  board,  but  by  the 
national  commission.  And  therefore,  will  any  gentleman  say,  will 
my  honored  friend  from  Massachusetts  [Mr.  Cakdler]  maintain  that 
it  is  not  proper,  that  it  is  not  important,  that  the  officer  who  meets 
and  greets  those  visitors  from  abroad  should  be  a  national  officer  ?  Un¬ 
doubtedly,  he  should  be  ;  and,  if  so,  shall  the  Government  not  pay  him  ? 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  Why  not  let  the  president  do 
that  ?  He  is  a  member  of  the  national  commission. 

Mr.  BUTTER  WORTH.  What  president? 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  The  president  of  the  national  com¬ 
mission. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Well,  the  president  is  not  identified  with 
the  aggressive  working  organization  of  the  exposition,  and  no  president 
of  a  commission  ever  was.  It  is  the  man  who  represents  the  pulsating 
machinery  of  that  enterprise  who  must  speak  for  it,  and  not  the  pres¬ 
ident  of  the  commission.  He  has  his  own  duties  to  perform;  but  the 
director  general  represents  the  Government  of  the  United  States  and 
should  be  paid  out  of  the  Treasury,  and  I  hold  it  is  unjust  to  the  gen¬ 
erous  people  of  Chicago  not  to  do  so. 

One  word  more  as  to  what  Chicago  has  done  beyond  what  is  fairly 
required  by  this  statute.  To-day  she  has  agents  in  Japan,  in  China, 
in  Algiers,  in  South  America,  in  Mexico,  in  the  Orient,  arranging  for 
exhibits  from  all  these  countries,  in  order  that  this  exposition  may  be 
far  beyond  what  its  most  sanguine  friends  expected  or  hoped  for  it. 

Mr.  ADAMS.  Is  that  required  by  the  law? 

WHAT  CHICAGO  IS  DOING. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Chicago  is  not  required  by  law  to  do  so, 
but  in  addition  to  sending  agents  to  China,  Japan,  etc.,  she  has  placed 
$100,000  subject  to  the  control  of  the  officers  appointed  by  the  Govern¬ 
ment  to  procure  exhibits  from  South  America  and  the  other  nations 
on  the  western  continent.  In  other  words,  they  have  been  in  nowise 
niggardly ;  and  we  think  it  is  due  from  Congress  to  be  fair  and  even  gen¬ 
erous,  at  least  to  be  just,  towards  those  people  who  have  done  so  much. 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  The  gentleman  does  not  under¬ 
stand  that  any  criticism  has  been  made  upon  the  local  directory  ?  We 
commend  it.  We  commend  their  enterprise. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Certainly,  I  know  that.  I  know  you  have 
praised  their  endeavors,  and  in  the  same  spirit  of  justice  a  further  re¬ 
mark  touching  the  men  who  compose  the  directory  is  in  place.  The 
time  and  efforts  of  these  forty-five  directors,  given  gratuitously,  is  in  it¬ 
self  a  contribution  of  great  value,  since  they  are  men  of  the  highest 
character  and  position  in  the  social,  financial,  and  business  world.  And 
this  but  supplements  their  pecuniary  aid.  They  have  indeed  a  local 
interest  in  making  the  exposition  a  success. 

But  from  a  national  point  of  view  they  should  feel  no  more  pride  in 
it  than  any  other  citizen.  You  and  each  one  of  your  constituents  must 
feel  a  j  ust  pride  in  the  result,  that  it  should  reflect  credit  upon  our  nation. 
The  world  does  not  look  to  the  directory  of  Chicago.  The  world  does 
not  look  to  Chicago,  nor  yet  to  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  nations  look 
to  this  Capitol  and  those  who  represent  the  Federal  Government  for 
the  character  and  success  of  this  exposition;  but  Congress  relies  upon 
the  genius,  the  enterprise,  and  unflagging  zeal  of  the  gentlemen  who 

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compose  the  directory  and  the  citizens  of  Chicago  to  impart  to  the 
fair  the  measure  of  success  which  the  standing  of  our  Government 
among  the  nations  demands.  We  should  be  thankful  for  having 
within  our  border  a  city  like  Chicago,  generous,  aggressive,  sometimes 
vastly  too  aggressive,  but  in  this  case  fairly  equal  to  all  that  you  would 
require. 

In  speaking  of  the  directors  I  have  but  paid  a  deserved  compliment 
to  the  men  who  represent  the  vital  forces  in  this  undertaking. 

A  few  months  ago  one  of  the  most  honorable  societies  of  Europe,  the 
Society  of  Engineers  (comprising  several  hundred  distinguished  men), 
visited  the  United  States.  They  met  in  Chicago.  Among  them  were 
Sir  James  Kittson,  president  of  the  society;  Mr.  James  Dredge,  an  emi¬ 
nent  engineer,  and  one  of  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  Engineering, 
the  leading  illustrated  journal  of  the  Old  World.  Each  one  came  as  a 
‘  ‘  doubting  Thomas.  ’ ?  They  said :  “  Is  it  possible  that  upon  an  inland 
sea  in  this  young  nation  a  city  has  grown  up  in  fifty  years  which  can 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  law  which  we  have  read?” 

The  visitors  remained  in  Chicago  two  days,  were  sorry  they  could 
not  stay  a  week.  They  met  the  members  of  the  directory;  they  visited 
the  site  of  the  exposition.  They  discussed  its  purpose,  scope,  and  plan. 
Their  doubts  were  removed,  and  their  faith  became  as  strong  as  their 
doubts  had  been.  I  conferred  with  many  of  them.  They  contem¬ 
plated  in  wonder  and  admiration  the  unexampled  energy  and  pluck  of 
these  men  who  had  contributed  $  11, 000, 000  for  the  promotion  of  an 
enterprise  in  which  they  have  no  interest  except  to  add  to  the  pros¬ 
perity  and  the  honor  of  their  city  and  country.  These  distinguished 
visitors  returned  to  their  several  homes,  champions  of  our  great  un¬ 
dertaking,  in  which  they  recognize  an  effort  in  behalf  of  mankind. 

THINGS  ARE  RUNNING  SMOOTHLY. 

Mr.  Dredge,  since  his  return  to  London,  read  a  very  able  paper  on 
the  exposition  before  the  Society  of  Art.  Sir - Hall,  another  emi¬ 

nent  thinker  and  writer,  presided.  If  these  strangers  within  our  gates 
are  filled  with  zeal  for  our  enterprise,  shall  we  stand  here  and  bicker 
about  paying  the  salary  of  the  officer  chosen  under  authority  of  Con¬ 
gress  to  manage  the  exposition  ?  The  work  is  going  forward  smoothly 
and  satisfactorily.  True  it  is  that  when  our  friends  of  the  Congres¬ 
sional  committee,  Mr.  Candler,  Mr.  Frank,  Mr.  Flower,  and  Mr. 
Wilson  of  West  Virginia,  were  there  the  machinery  was  not  run¬ 
ning  smoothly;  but  that  was  several  months  ago.  It  is  not  so  now. 
“  White-winged  Peace  ”  has  settled  upon  us.  [Laughter.]  We  are 
working  as  smoothly  and  effectively  as  auy  of  the  friends  of  the  fair 
could  desire;  and  there  are  no  troubles  to  retard  our  progress.  We  are 
moving  forward. 

Mr.  FLOWER.  If  you  can  get  these  salaries  all  will  go  smoothly. 

Mr.  BUTTER  WORTH.  I  want  to  call  attention  to  that  in  a  mo¬ 
ment.  I  use  the  language  of  one  of  these  eminent  engineers.  He  said: 

You  have  furnished  the  finest  site  to  be  found  on  either  continent,  upon  the 
lake,  by  the  side  of  an  inland  sea,  with  walks  and  drives  and  beauties  that  are 
unsurpassed  and  unequaled  anywhere  in  the  world. 

The  Exposition  Park  contains  a  thousand  acres— fifteen  hundred,  if 
you  desire,  upon  which  to  locate  the  fair.  There  will  be  a  floor  space 
of  over  150  acres,  and  the  people  of  Chicago  will  not  stop  until  they 
have  raised  the  sum  of  $13,000,000.  Thefe  is  not  an  example  in  the 
history  of  the  world  where  the  people  of  a  single  locality  or  a  city  has 

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done  so  much  for  the  nation  in  which  they  reside  or  in  which  it  was 
located.  I  but  bespeak  for  that  people  the  honor  and  the  credit  due 
for  such  courage  and  energy,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  deal  with  them 
at  least  fairly. 

What  else?  There  is  some  criticism  upon  the  frequent  meetings  of 
the  commission.  The  commission  has  “come  and  gone.”  It  may  be 
said  of  it  that  it  1  ‘  fleeth  like  a  shadow  and  continueth  not.  ’  ’  [Laugh¬ 
ter.]  Their  committees  remain,  and  the  rest  of  the  commission  have 
gone  to  their  homes  to  help  this  enterprise  in  the  several  States. 

Some  criticism  was  offered  in  reference  to  the  ladies’  commission;  but 
my  learned  friend  from  West  Virginia  [Mr.  Wilson]  has  not  reached 
that  sere  old  age  when  he  is  willing  to  amble  into  the  arena  and  crit¬ 
icise  vigorously  one  hundred  and  fifteen  women,  or  even  a  smaller 
number.  [Laughter.]  Mr.  Chairman,  when  the  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  women  met  together,  I  am  sure  my  friend  will  bear  me  out  in 
saying  that  they  bore  themselves  in  a  manner  worthy  of  them. 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  Better  than  the  men. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  That  is  right.  That  is  gallantry.  I  like  it. 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  true. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  It  is  true;  and  it  would  be  gallant  if  it 
were  not  true  [laughter] ;  but  it  is  true.  These  ladies  represented 
the  best  type  of  American  womanhood.  They  represented  the  several 
States  and  Territories  of  the  Union,  and,  as  my  honored  friend  here 
admits,  they  bore  themselves  with  conspicuous  ability  and  true  dig¬ 
nity.  They  organized,  and  I  do  not  think  there  was  any  wirepulling 
or  chicanery  in  the  selection  of  the  president  of  that  body.  They  chose 
by  a  unanimous  vote  a  lady  who  would  grace  any  court  in  the  world 
[loud  applause  in  the  House  and  galleries],  a  lady  who  would  grace 
any  station  in  the  land  [renewed  applause],  a  woman  of  rare  dig¬ 
nity  and  culture,  and  who  is  utterly  devoted  to  this  work,  and  gives 
her  time  without  stint  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  devolved  upon  her, 
and  without  other  compensation  than  the  honor  that  may  come  as  a 
result  of  duty  well  performed.  She  has  for  her  assistant  the  secretary 
of  the  ladies’  commission,  a  lady  well  known  to  every  member  here  as 
a  most  dignified  and  highly  educated  woman,  whose  full  knowledge 
and  large  experience  give  her  a  conspicuous  place  among  the  women 
of  the  United  States, 

THE  WOMEN’S  DEPARTMENT. 

These  women  and  their  associates  are  laboring  to  secure  (for  the 
first  time  in  the  history  of  the  world)  an  exhibit  for  women  commen¬ 
surate  with  their  dignity  and  its  importance. 

Chicago  has  provided  a  building  which  will  cost  $200,000  in  order 
that  the  women,  not  only  of  our  own  country,  but  of  the  world,  may 
make  an  exhibition  of  what  the  hand  and  brain  of  woman  have  accom¬ 
plished  in  the  past,  what  they  are  accomplishing  to-day,  and  pointing 
to  the  broader  opportunities  that  the  future  has  in  store  lor  them.  The 
women  of  England,  the  women  of  France,  the  women  of  Germany,  and 
of  Mexico,  in  other  words,  the  women  of  the  world,  have  turned  their 
eyes  to  Chicago  and  are  taking  an  interest  in  the  women’s  organization 
there,  and  they  will  bring  exhibits  to  illustrate  what  opportunities 
will  wait  upon  their  sex  in  the  years  to  come. 

Our  friends  know  very  well  that  the  field  of  useful  endeavor  for 
women  is  being  enlarged  from  year  to  year;  that  new  vocations,  new 
avenues  of  employment,  new  industries  are  opened  to  them.  Now, 

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what  else  have  we  ?  The  ground  is  provided  for;  the  buildings  are  pro¬ 
vided  for;  the  classification  is  complete;  men  in  all  parts  of  the  world 
are  working  to  promote  the  interests  of  this  grand  exposition.  Nor  is 
this  all.  Up  to  this  time  we  have  spoken  only  of  material  things, 
whic  h  are  but  thought  crystallized ;  but  there  is  one  other  thing  that  the 
Chicago  directory  has  provided  for.  It  relates  to,  ‘  ‘  not  things,  but  men.  ’  ’ 
I  refer  to  the  world’s  congress.  So  that  during  the  exposition  of  ma¬ 
terial  things  we  may  have  also  the  best  thoughts  of  the  nineteenth 
century  given  to  our  people.  The  ablest  thinkers,  not  of  this  Repub- 
lic  alone,  but  of  the  world,  will  meet  to  discuss  the  important  ques¬ 
tions  which  are  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  men.  I  submit  that  man  is 
very  dull  indeed  who  can  stand  this  afternoon  in  the  presence  of  what  is 
occurring  in  this  Republic  and  elsewhere  and  not  realize  that  we  are 
approaching  new  conditions;  that  radical  changes  must  soon  transpire 
which  will  affect  our  economic  and  possibly  our  social  system  from 
center  to  circumference;  questions  that  will  make  us  more  anxious 
than  any  which  have  heretofore  been  forced  upon  our  attention. 

The  directory  deemed  it  expedient  to  call  together  the  great  think¬ 
ers  and  workers  of  the  world  during  this  exposition.  And  it  is  pecul¬ 
iarly  gratifying  to  observe  the  liberal  spirit  manifested  by  the  people 
of  Chicago  in  this  behalf.  Churches  will  be  thrown  open  for  the  pro¬ 
posed  meetings.  The  great  Auditorium,  the  finest  building  upon 
either  continent,  that  monument  to  the  genius  of  Ferdinand  W.  Peck, 
a  Chicago  boy,  educated  in  her  public  schools,  who  has  been  instru¬ 
mental  in  giving  to  his  native  city  and  to  America  the  finest  building 
upon  either  continent — that  great  building  is  to  be  thrown  open  for 
the  meeting  of  these  congresses. 

Who  will  be  there?  The  eminent  scientists  in  the  field  of  electric¬ 
ity;  those  who  have  given  most  thought  and  investigation  to  the  prob¬ 
lem  of  municipal  government;  those  who  have  given  consideration  to 
the  questions  of  production  and  distribution  of  supplies;  in  other  words, 
from  the  whole  field  of  scientific  and  economic  research  the  leading 
men  of  the  world  have  signified  their  willingness  to  come  to  Chicago 
during  the  exposition  and  contribute  of  the  gathered  fruit  of  forty 
centuries  of  investigation  and  experiment  for  the  benefit  of  their  fel¬ 
low-men,  and  all  this  at  comparatively  little  expense.  We  have  pro¬ 
vided  in  the  pending  bill  $2,500  for  the  encouragement  of  that  part  of 
the  enterprise. 

There  are  now  only  one  or  two  matters  I  desire  to  add,  and  I  will 
print,  as  addenda  to  my  remarks,  some  statements  which  I  deem  it 
important  that  members  of  the  House  should  read,  if  they  can  not 
hear  them,  in  regard  to  what  is  being  done  in  pushing  forward  the  work 
of  preparation. 

There  are  only  one  or  two  other  matters  of  which  I  desire  to  speak, 
for  I  am  aware  that  the  House  has  been  detained  for  a  long  time  upon 
the  items  in  question,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  weary  it  by  prolonging  tbe 
session.  I  remember  that  the  last  time  I  held  the  floor  some  gentlemen 
thought  I  was  not  happy  in  my  effort.  I  was  discussing  the  tariff. 
[Laughter  and  cheers.] 

Mr.  TUCKER.  Oh,  yes;  you  were  happy. 

Several  Members.  You  were.  You  were  very  happy. 

MrJ  BUTTERWORTH.  I  think,  possibly,  I  was. 

Mr.  BRECKINRIDGE,  of  Kentucky.  I  hope  you  will  vote  better 
on  this  question  than  you  did  on  that.  You  can  not  speak  better,  but 
I  hope  you  will  vote  better. 
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LET  EXISTING  HARMONY  CONTINUE. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  never  knew  my  friend  from  Kentucky 
[Mr.  Breckinridge]  to  part  company  with  his  party  on  any  question. 
If  he  had,  instead  of  being  able  to  help  ‘  ‘  guide  the  party  machine, ’ ’  he 
would  have  been  seen  sitting  on  the  fence  watching  the  procession  pass 
by.  [Laughter.] 

Mr.  WASHINGTON.  You  never  heard  him  speak  against  it  and 
then  vote  for  it.  [Laughter.] 

Mr.  BUTTER  WORTH.  No;  he  always  kept  silent.  He  would  not 
even  bear  witness  against  the  wrong.  [Laughter.]  But,  Mr.  Chair¬ 
man,  that  is  not  in  question  here  now.  I  want  to  remark  at  this 
point  that  my  brethren  of  the  World’s  Fair  Committee  who  visited 
Chicago  rendered  excellent  service,  and  they  are  entitled  to  praise  in¬ 
stead  of  censure.  I  do  not  think  anyone  rendered  better  service  than 
you  gentlemen  of  the  committee.  I  was  pretty  near  the  nerve  center 
there,  and  I  am  certain  there  can  be  no  question  that  your  coming  was 
most  timely. 

After  your  arrival  we  had  some  experience  of  harmony,  of  the  dwell¬ 
ing  together  in  unity.  We  have  since  dwelt  together  in  unity.  You 
were  as  the  oil  on  the  troubled  waters.  But  now  when  you  have  the 
waters  still  and  hushed  for  the  quiet  sailing  of  this  magnificent  enter¬ 
prise,  we  do  not  want  you  to  lash  them  into  fury  again,  and  render 
your  coming  a  second  time  necessary,  when  you  might  not  be  able  to 
turn  aside  the  calamity  which  unfriendly  action  here  would  threaten. 

Mr.  FLOWER.  We  can  not  change  our  minds  every  ten  minutes, 
you  know. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  In  the  first  place  the  Government  has  pro¬ 
vided,  as  heretofore,  for  an  exhibit  by  the  various  Departments,  in¬ 
cluding  the  National  Museum  and  the  bureau  for  the  propagation  of 
fish,  etc.  The  committee  has  provided  full  appropriation  to  complete 
the  Government  building.  We  hope  it  will  be  ample.  No  one  criti¬ 
cises  that  item. 

Let  it  be  understood  that  at  the  time  the  national  commission  met 
it  was  thought  that  it  would  have  a  larger  jurisdiction  than  is  now 
conceded,  and  more  extended  than  it  is  now  exercising.  It  is  now  act¬ 
ing  in  conjunction  and  accord  with  the  local  directory,  and  in  a  man¬ 
ner  thoroughly  satisfactory  to  both  bodies. 

I  believe  in  divorce  under  certain  circumstances,  but  when  man  and 
wife,  having  quarreled,  come  together,  kiss  and  make  up,  and  are  liv¬ 
ing  happily  and  rearing  their  children  “in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord,”  why  should  we  insist,  against  their  will,  on  divorcing 
them?  I  can  not  see;  can  you?  In  other  words,  when  the  troubles 
that  vexed  this  enterprise  have  passed  away,  when  this  great  project 
in  which  we  are  all  so  deeply  concerned,  is  being  satisfactorily  con¬ 
ducted,  I  can  not  see  why  we  should  be  intent  on  dealing  with  it  as 
of  its  former  estate  and  condition. 

[Here  the  hammer  fell.] 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  would  like  a  few  moments  more. 

Mr.  SPRINGER.  Ten  minutes? 

IN  REGARD  TO  THE  QUESTION  OP  SALARIES. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  will  not  trespass  unduly  upon  the  in¬ 
dulgence  of  the  House  and  trust  that  I  shall  not  be  strictly  limited. 

Mr.  SPRINGER.  I  ask  unanimous  consent  that  the  gentleman 
from  Ohio  be  allowed  to  proceed  without  limitation.  [Cries  of  “  That 
is  right !”] 

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The  CHAIRMAN.  In  the  absence  of  objection,  the  gentleman 
from  Ohio  will  proceed. 

There  was  no  objection. 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  Before  the  gentleman  proceeds 
I  would  like  to  ask  him  a  question. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  yield  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  I  dislike  to  come  down  from 
poetry  to  prose,  but  I  want - 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Hold  on;  do  not  make  a  speech;  you  said 
you  wanted  to  ask  a  question . 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  I  want  to  make  a  preliminary 
statement,  because  I  can  not  ask  the  question  intelligently  to  the  House 
without  doing  so.  The  gentleman  is  the  secretary  of  the  Chicago  cor¬ 
poration,  with  its  corps  of  clerks,  etc.  The  United  States  commission 
has  a  secretary  with  a  salary  of  $10,000  and  with  authority  to  appoint 
two  assistant  secretaries  with  salaries  of  $3,000  each,  together  with  a 
body  of  other  assistants.  Now,  I  wish  to  ask  the  gentleman  whether 
he  does  not  consider  that  an  unnecessary  expenditure  for  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  that  office. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  will  answer  the  gentleman;  and  on  this 
point  my  friend  from  Kentucky  [Mr.  Breckinridge]  has  anticipated 
me.  There  is  now,  always  has  been,  and  always  will  be  until  the  light  of 
the  millennium  breaks  in,  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  such  bodies  as  the 
commission  to  provide  a  very  ample  force  and  ask  very  liberal  supplies. 
But,  mark  you,  this  was  done,  as  I  have  already  said  to  my  friend,  in 
view  of  the  work  laid  out  some  months  ago,  which  has  since  been  in  a 
measure  limited.  As  my  friend  from  Kentucky  has  already  said,  we 
have  reduced  the  amount  that  can  be  used  for  that  purpose  about  20 
per  cent. 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  You  have  not  reduced  the  pay 
of  the  secretary. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Of  course  I  can  not  say  what  that  commit¬ 
tee  will  do.  All  I  can  do  is  to  make  this  pledge  to  the  House  and  the 
country.  Here  is  a  committee  composed  of  honorable  men,  selected 
with  care,  realizing  the  great  responsibilities  resting  upon  them,  real¬ 
izing  the  fact  that  you  gentlemen  have  criticised  them  and  criticised 
them  properly;  and,  recognizing  the  fact  that  this  House  has  demanded 
and  the  country  insists  upon  economy,  I  can  only  say  that  those  gen¬ 
tlemen  are  pledged  to  conduct  the  business  committed  to  them  as  they 
would  their  own  private  affairs.  And  as  the  chairman  of  the  committee, 
my  friend,  Mr.  Cannon,  has  stated,  we  have  reduced  the  appropria¬ 
tion  which  can  be  applied  to  these  salaries. 

Mr.  CANDLER,  of  Massachusetts.  I  think  not. 

THE  VIEWS  OP  CONGRESS  WILL  BE  RESPECTED. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Oh,  yes,  we  have.  I  can  not  be  mistaken 
in  that,  for  I  was  present  when  it  was  done.  [Laughter.]  And,  as  my 
honored  friend  suggested,  the  reduction  must  be  along  that  line. 
Where  will  the  reduction  be  made?  That  is  a  pertinent  question.  I 
can  not  tell.  But  as  we  have  faith  in  honorable  and  capable  men 
charged  with  the  performance  of  a  high  duty,  I  feel  convinced  that  the 
views  of  Congress  will  be  respected  as  far  as  practicable,  and  I  can 
pledge  for  them  to  the  House  and  to  the  country  that  they  will  not 
allow  salaries  or  expenses  which  are  extravagant. 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  But  does  not  the  gentleman  think 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  Congress  to  fix  the  salary  of  every  public  official  ? 

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Mr.  BUTTER  WORTH.  As  an  abstract  proposition,  I  think  so. 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  Well,  as  a  concrete  proposition, 
what  do  you  think  of  it? 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Well,  as  a  concrete  proposition,  I  think  so, 
too.  But  there  are  manifest  exceptions - 

Mr.  BRECKINRIDGE,  of  Kentucky.  How  could  it  be  done  on  an 
appropriation  bill? 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  was  just  going  to  suggest  that  the  rules 
of  the  House  prevent  it  from  being  done  in  this  way. 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  Well,  then,  if  we  can  not  do  it 
upon  an  appropriation  bill  I  fear  it  will  not  be  done  at  all. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  have  no  such  fear.  I  have  the  most  per¬ 
fect  confidence  that  these  corrections  will  be  made.  There  is  no  doubt 
about  it  in  my  judgment.  The  only  question  between  us  now  is  as  to 
these  salaries.  We  have  cut  down  by  one-fifth  the  appropriation  that 
can  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  them.  We  have  said  to  the  men  who 
have  tne  care  of  the  expenditure  that  the  expenses  must  be  cut  down ; 
and  I  happen  to  know,  from  information  derived  from  an  absolutely  re¬ 
liable  source,  that  wherever  there  is  an  extra  typewriter,  wherever 
there  is  an  extra  clerk  or  stenographer,  or  an  extra  salary  paid  in  any 
way,  it  will  be  razed  down  until  it  shall  meet  the  sentiment  of  economy 
prevailing  in  the  country. 

But,  Mr.  Chairman,  there  is  a  certain  kind  of  economy  which  is 
more  harmful  than  extravagance*  If  I  might  be  permitted  to  quote 
a  little  Scripture  in  this  connection — 

There  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth;  and  there  is  that  withholdeth 
more  than  is  meet,  yet  it  tendeth  to  poverty. 

For  myself  I  do  not  want  that  kind  of  economy. 

Mr.  WASHINGTON.  Will  the  gentleman  allow  me  to  ask  him  a 
question  ? 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Certainly. 

Mr.  WASHINGTON.  I  see  that  the  telegraph  states,  in  an  Associ¬ 
ated  Press  dispatch  on  yesterday,  that  the  president  of  this  exposition, 
Mr.  Davis,  said  that  he  would  resign  if  his  salary  was  reduced  as  pro¬ 
posed  by  this  bill.  That,  I  understand,  would  be  a  great  calamity. 

Mr.  HOPKINS.  I  do  not  think  he  said  that. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  do  not  believe  that  he  made  such  an  as¬ 
sertion.  He  might  have  said,  as  a  man  might  very  properly  say  under 
such  circumstances,  that  unless  he  received  a  compensation  which  was 
satisfactory  he  would  be  compelled  to  resign  the  office. 

Mr.  ADAMS.  He  wanted  to  be  a  national  officer. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  So  I  understood;  that  it  was  not  so  much 
a  question  of  salary,  but  whether  he  represented  the  exposition  as  an 
official  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  WASHINGTON.  That  is  not  the  statement  in  the  press  dis¬ 
patches. 

Mr.  HOPKINS.  But  that  is  the  fact. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Now,  some  men  might  be  dear  at  50cents  a 
day  and  others  cheap  at  $50  a  day.  That  is  the  experience  of  life; 
and  I  do  not  think  that  any  man  will  dispute  the  accuracy  of  the  state¬ 
ment. 

Mr.  KERR,  of  Iowa.  The  gentleman  said  a  few  moments  ago  that 
they  would  be  willing  to  drop  a  number  of  typewriters  and  other  clerks, 
but  he  said  nothing  about  the  reduction  of  this  $15,000  salary. 
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THE  VALUE  OF  A  CAPABLE  MAN’S  SERVICES. 

Mr.  BUT  TER  WORTH.  I  have  just  said  that  is  a  matter  over  which 
we  have  no  control  in  this  bill;  but,  as  advising  them  touching  the  re¬ 
duction  of  such  salaries  as  ought  to  be  cut  down,  we  have  in  the  bill 
limited  the  amount  that  might  be  applied  to  that  use  20  per  cent. 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  Colonel  Davis  is  a  man — and  I  am  convinced 
that  the  statement  will  be  concurred  in  by  many  gentlemen  on  this 
floor  who  know  him — who  can  readily  command  $15,000  a  year  in  a 
dozen  different  places  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  MASON.  Yes,  $20,000. 

Mr.  WILSON,  of  West  Virginia.  So  could  the  Secretary  of  State 
or  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  I  have  no  doubt  of  it.  But  the  Secretary 
of  State  is  occupying  a  more  conspicuous  place  in  the  nation  than  the 
director  general  of  this  fair.  Such  men  as  Colonel  Davis,  quick,  active, 
vigilant  men  of  affairs,  can  command  large  salaries  and  can  pot  be  in¬ 
duced  to  accept  employment  where  the  compensation  is  less  than  the 
service  will  command  in  other  fields,  and  especially  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  his  office  is  temporary  and  prevents  his  attending  to  other  busi¬ 
ness. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  some  men  are  worth  to  business  ventures, 
Edward  T.  Jeffery,  one  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  directory,  had  an 
offer  of  $50,000  a  year  to  take  charge  of  a  railroad  in  Mexico.  But  he 
declined,  and  largely  because  he  had  become  committed  to  the  work 
of  the  exposition,  and  with  his  associates  feels  in  a  large  measure  re¬ 
sponsible  for  its  success.  But  the  offer  made  indicates  what  salaries 
great  ability  will  command. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago  would  undoubtedly  pay  Lyman 
J.  Gage  $50,000  a  year  to  retain  his  services,  and  they  are  worth  it  to 
the  bank.  It  is  so  with  other  members  of  the  directory;  their  time 
and  ability  will  command  almost  any  sum  they  ask,  and  yet  our  Gov¬ 
ernment  has  both  for  nothing  in  promoting  this  national  enterprise. 

You  need  not  feel  disturbed,  gentlemen,  lest  some  of  these  men 
should  shirk  some  responsibility  or  neglect  some  duty  which  has  been 
properly  devolved  upon  them.  They  are  giving  their  time  and  best 
efforts  to  the  promotion  of  this  great  project.  And  my  country  is  reap¬ 
ing  ten  thousand  fold  for  every  poor  scruple  she  appropriates  to  carry 
it  forward.  The  only  trouble  is  about  these  few  salaries.  Our  com¬ 
mittee  has  done  the  best  it  could  to  have  them  adjusted  with  reference 
to  the  requirements  of  the  situation.  That  is  all  it  could  do. 

Now,  I  have  borne  this  witness  because  I  think  it  is  just,  not  only 
to  the  board  I  represent,  but  to  the  commission.  I  do  not  owe  the 
commission  anything.  I  have  been  criticised  by  it,  or  some  of  its  offi¬ 
cers,  until  I  was  out  of  all  patience;  but  this  is  an  enterprise  compared 
with  which  men  are  nothing.  The  enterprise  is  everything.  The  world 
is  looking  on  to  see  whether,  in  point  of  fact,  a  thousand  miles  inland, 
on  what  they  regard  as  the  frontier,  it  is  possible  to  put  on  foot  and 
carry  forward  an  enterprise  that  shall  eclipse  any  that  the  world  has 
ever  seen. 

THE  ENTERPRISE  CAN  NOT  BE  TERMITTED  TO  FAIL. 

There  ought  to  be  national  pride,  in  this  matter,  there  ought  to  be 
an  appreciation  of  the  efforts  these  men  have  put  forth.  I  know  how 
devoted  they  are.  They  are  worn  and  weary  in  this  struggle,  and  they 
deserve  encouragement  at  the  hands  of  the  representatives  of  the  peo¬ 
ple;  and  I  want  to  say  to  this  House — I  shall  not  be  in  the  next  one,  nor 
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the  next,  nor  the  next,  I  suppose,  for  I  do  not  consent  to  wear  the  pecul¬ 
iar  brand  which  is  now  quite  common  in  our  State  [laughter] — but 
if  a  member  of  the  next  House,  and  if  after  the  people  of  Chicago  and 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  had  put  twelve  or  fifteen  millions  of  dollars  into 
this  national  enterprise,  which  must  reflect  honor  upon  every  child  of 
the  Republic,  they  needed  money  to  tide  them  over,  I  wouid  vote  it, 
and  think  I  was  doing  my  country  a  valuable  service. 

But  they  have  not  asked  it.  Suppose  they  do.  You  will  grant  it 
or  withhold  it  as  the  circumstances  may  suggest  that  it  is  wise  and 
just,  or  the  reverse,  to  do  so.  You  are  still  master  of  the  purse  strings. 
But  if  you  shall  find  coming  up  from  all  the  nations  those  who  are  to 
exhibit  the  evidence  of  their  resources  and  prosperity,  if  you  shall  see 
brought  from  every  part  of  the  Republic  that  which  will  show  to  the 
world  what  freemen  can  accomplish  in  this  Republic,  and  if  you  find 
in  carrying  forward  the  work  you  have  devolved  upon  the  people  of 
Chicago  you  have  “pressed  their  duty  past  their  might,7’ and  they 
are  compelled  to  ask  a  generous  recognition  of  the  nation  and  a  fair 
contribution  in  return  for  their  splendid  efforts,  I  believe  Congress 
would  vote  it,  and  I  am  certain  that  I  would  do  so  if  a  member  of 
the  House.  But  “sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof.” 

I  repeat  it  is  the  nation’s  enterprise,  and  can  not  be  permitted  to  fail 
for  want  of  support  from  the  country  whose  creature  it  is.  Such  failure 
would  not  reflect  upon  Chicago  at  all  as  compared  with  the  humilia¬ 
tion  it  would  bring  upon  the  United  States. 

One  thing  is  certain,  whatever  wisdom  and  justice  demand,  the  rep¬ 
resentatives  of  the  people  will  do. 

Mr.  ENLOE.  Will  the  gentleman  allow  me  to  ask  him  a  question  ? 

Mr.  BUTTER  WORTH.  Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  ENLOE.  Is  it  in  contemplation  to  have  the  colored  element 
represented  ?  I  understand  that  there  is  some  complaint  that  they  are 
not  represented. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  Oh,  no;  they  admit  every  one  without  re¬ 
gard  to  race,  sex,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude.  [Applause 
and  laughter.  ]  A  man  need  not  be  thoroughly  nor  utterly  white  and 
he  suffers  no  damage  from  being  utterly  black.  [Laughter.  ]  In  other 
words,  this  is  an  exposition  for  the  benefit  of  the  American  people. 

Mr.  ENLOE.  That  is  right. 

Mr.  BUTTERWORTH.  The  following  statement,  which  I  will  in¬ 
sert  in  my  remarks  without  detaining  the  House  to  read  it  at  this  time, 
indicates  the  purpose  and  character  of  the  world’s  congresses.  I  mark 
it  Exhibit  A.  I  will  embody  in  my  remarks  also  a  statement  con¬ 
taining  information  concerning  the  exposition,  which  will  be  useful  to 
the  public.  I  mark  it  Exhibit  B. 

I  now  yield  the  floor. 


Exhibit  A. 

“Not  things,  but  men.” 

THE  WORLD’S  CONGRESS  AUXILIARY  OF  THE  WORLD’S  COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION. 
The  object  of  this  organization. 

As  is  now  well  known,  the  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of 
America  by  Christopher  Co’umbus  will  be  celebrated  at  Chicago  in  1893,  under 
the  sanction  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  on  a  scale  commensurate 
with  the  importance  and  dignity  of  the  occasion. 

The  measures  already  taken  give  satisfactory  assurances  that  the  exposition 
then  to  be  made  of  the  material  progress  of  the  world  will  be  such  as  to  deserve 
unqualified  approval. 

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But  to  make  the  exposition  complete  and  the  celebration  adequate,  the  won¬ 
derful  achievements  of  the  new  age  in  science,  literature,  education,  govern¬ 
ment,  jurisprudence,  morals,  charity,  religion,  and  other  departments  of  human 
activity  should  also  be  conspicuously  displayed  as  the  most  effective  means  of 
increasing  the  fraternity,  progress,  prosperity,  and  peace  of  mankind. 

It  lias  therefore  been  proposed  that  a  series  of  world’s  congresses  for  that  pur¬ 
pose  be  held  in  connection  with  the  World’s  Columbian  Exposition  of  1893,  and 
the  world’s  congress  auxiliary  has  been  duly  authorized  and  organized  to  pro¬ 
mote  the  holding  and  success  of  such  congresses. 

Among  the  great  themes  which  the  congresses  are  expected  to  consider  are 
the  following : 

I.  The  grounds  of  fraternal  union  in  the  language,  literature,  domestic  life, 
religion,  science,  art,  and  civil  institutions  of  different  peoples. 

II.  The  economic,  industrial,  and  financial  problems  of  the  age. 

III.  Educational  systems,  their  advantages  and  their  defects  ;  and  the  means 
by  which  they  may  best  be  adapted  to  the  recent  enormous  increase  in  all  de¬ 
partments  of  knowledge. 

IV.  The  practicability  of  a  common  language,  for  use  in  the  commercial  re¬ 
lations  of  the  civilized  world. 

V.  International  copyright  and  the  laws  of  intellectual  property  and  com¬ 
merce. 

VI.  Immigration  and  naturalization  laws,  and  the  proper  international  privi¬ 
leges  of  alien  governments,  and  their  subjects  or  citizens. 

VII.  The  most  efficient  and  advisable  means  of  preventing  or  decreasing  pau¬ 
perism,  insanity,  and  crime  and  of  increasing  productive  ability,  prosperity, 
and  virtue  throughout  the  world. 

VIII.  International  law  as  a  bond  of  union  and  a  means  of  mutual  protec¬ 
tion,  and  how  it  may  best  be  enlarged,  perfected,  and  authoritatively  expressed. 

IX.  The  establishment  of  the  principlesof  judicial  justice  as  the  supreme  law 
of  international  relations  and  the  general  substitution  of  arbitration  for  war 
in  the  settlement  of  international  controversies. 

It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  advantages  that  would  result  from  the  mere 
establishment  of  personal  acquaintance  and  friendly  relations  among  the  lead¬ 
ers  of  the  intellectual  and  moral  world,  who  now,  for  the  most  part,  know  each 
other  only  through  the  interchange  of  publications  and,  perhaps,  the  formali¬ 
ties  of  correspondence. 

And, what  is  transcendently  more  important,  such  congresses,  cortvened  under 
circumstances  so  auspicious,  would  doubtless  surpass  all  previous  efforts  to 
bring  about  a  real  fraternity  of  nations  and  unite  the  enlightened  people  of  the 
whole  earth  in  a  general  co-operation  for  the  attainment  of  the  great  ends  for 
which  human  society  is  organized. 

The  organization  is  intended  to  promote  the  success  of  the  exposition  of  the 
material  products  of  civilization,  science,  and  art,  but  will  confine  its  own  oper¬ 
ations  to  the  exposition,  in  appropriate  conventions,  of  the  principles  of  human 
progress. 

CHARLES  C.  BONNEY,  President. 

THOMAS  B.  BRYAN,  Vice  President. 

LYMAN  J.  GAGPI,  Treasurer. 

BENJAMIN  B  UTTER  WORTH, 

Secretary. 

Exposition  Headquarters,  Chicago ,  III.,  U.  S.  A.,  October  30,  1890. 
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